Tirana - Strengthening skills, improving vocational training, and creating new job opportunities for young Albanians is the core mission of VOICE 2 YOUTH Albania. This newly launched cooperation project between Italy and Albania is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), and coordinated by the Fondazione Emmanuel – Don Francesco Tarantini per le Migrazioni e il Sud del Mondo ETS.
The initiative directly addresses a critical challenge in Albania: the deep divide between educational pathways, available skills, and actual job market demands. In 2022, 25.2% of young Albanians aged 15 to 29 were classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Young women are disproportionately affected, representing 55% of this group.
Yet, while many young adults struggle to find employment, various sectors of the Albanian economy face a shortage of skilled professionals. VOICE 2 YOUTH Albania aims to bridge this gap by aligning vocational training with job market needs and guiding candidates toward concrete career opportunities. Particular focus will be placed on young people facing severe social, economic, geographical, or disability-related barriers.
Spanning 36 months across the Tirana and Vlorë regions, the project relies on a network of Italian and Albanian partners with complementary expertise in international cooperation, intercultural mediation, job placement, youth policy, diaspora engagement, and business community relations. (9colonne)